Fabric pressing device of the sadiron type



Nov. 5, 1935. j s. DESURE 2,019,954

FABRIC PRESSING DEVICE OFI T HE SADIRON TYPE Filed Feb. 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l gramm, DsuR Nov. 5, 1935. v s. DESURE 2,019,954

FABRIC MPRESSING DEVICE OF THE SADIRON TYPE Filed Feb. 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIJIII w xr I.

.EPMEL DESU RE Nov. 5, 1935. s DESURE 2,019,954

FABRIC PRESSING DEVICE OF THE SADIRON TYPE Filed Feb. 2., 1955 4 sheets-sheet 5 i.' .i l f; (if j! .9 J0

maan DESURE Nov. 5, 1935. s DESURE 2,019,954

FABRIC PEEssING DEVICE oF THE sADlEoN TYPE Filed Feb. 2, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 4 wf/Of E ,EL-$.10,

ElllllllmI-.uunm-gnml Patented Nov.. 5, i3@

asics 2,(illl35954 FABRE@ PRESSHNG DEVICE @E THE SDERCON TYPE i6 Glaims.

This invention relates to fabric pressing devices and more particularly to manually operated pressing devices of the sad iron type.

An object of this invention is to provide a pressil ing iron of the self steaming type which is so constructed that a fabric dampening means may be readily applied to the fabric simultaneous with the pressing thereof in a manner whereby the dampening means Will not cause streaks or the like to appear in the fabric.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pressing iron which will eliminate the necessity of first dampening the fabric and then applying the hot iron thereto.

Avfurther object of this invention is to provide a pressing iron which is so constructed that the degree of dampness can be readily regulated in accordance with the temperature of the pressing facevo/f the iron. i

A still furtherobject of this invention is to provide a pressing iron which is so constructed that there is no possibility of water in liquid form being discharged from the dampening ports of the iron to thereby cause streaks to appear in the fabric.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pressing means in combination with a dampening means which is so constructed that the pressure of steam generated in the iron will .act to automatically prevent the passage of water in liquid form into the steam chest or chamber.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pressing device of this character wherein superheated steam may be supplied for application to the fabric, the pressure of the steam holding back the ow of water to the generator until the previously generated steam is discharged through the dampeningports of the iron.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or c rresponding parts throughout the several view Figure 1 isa detail side elevation of a pressing means constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention.

50 Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, partly in detail, of the pressing iron.

Figure 3 is an end elevation, partly broken away of the-iron.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken substantially through the center of the steam controlling valve.

Figure 'l is a sectional view taken on the line l--l' of Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the controlling valve removed from the iron.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 10 @-9 of Fig. 6.

Figure 10 is a topplan view of the body of the iron with the handle and steam controlling means removed therefrom.

Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the body i5 of the iron partly broken away and in section.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the bottom of the iron partly broken away.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 11.

Referring now to the drawings, and rst to Figs. 1 and 2, the letter I designates generally a self steaming iron.l 'I'he iron I in the present instance is heated by electricity, being provided in the bottom plate 2D thereof with an electric resistance unit 2l of well known characteristics and which may be connected to a source of electric currentsupply by means of conductors 22. The handle 23 of the iron I is provided with a plurality of temperature controlling switches 2t of conventional construction which are connected to yieldable terminals 25 adapted to engage contacts 26 extending through the forward part of the iron. The contacts 26 are connected to the heating unit 2l and are suitably insulated from 35 the housing 21 secured as by bolts 28 to the hot plate 20. The housing 21 isprovided with a relatively large opening 29 through which the contacts 26 extend, and insulation 30 of suitable character may be disposed in the opening 29 and 40 about the contacts 26.

The hot plate 20, in addition to providing a means for smoothing out the fabric to be pressed by the application of heat and pressure, also serves as a steam generator as will be hereinafter described. The plate 2D, between the heating unit 2l and the pressing surface 30 thereof is provided with a substantially V-shaped steam generating chamber which extends longitudinally of the plate 20 with the convergent end thereof extending in the direction of the point of the iron. The divergent ends of the steam generating chamber open through the rear end of the plate 20, one side 32 of the chamber 3l constituting the intake end of the chamber, while the other side 33 constitutes the outlet of the chamber.

The intake 32 of the steam generating chamber 3| has an L-shaped` pipe connection secured thereto, as at 34, and a metal pipe 35 of suitable length and diameter is connected at one end to the pipe connection 34. The pipe 35 is preferably bent in spiral form so that a considerable length of pipe may be used in a relatively small amount of space, and the other end of the pipe 35 is adapted to be connected to a iiexible supply hose 36. The metal tube or coil 35 acts as a preheater for the water supplied through the hose 36, the metallic walls of the pipe conducting the heat from the iron body to the incoming water. Coil 35 further functions as an auxiliary steam supply chamber for any steam which may back upl from the steam generating pipe 3|, into the water supply pipe. Any such steam tends to further heat the metallic walls of the coil which heat may be transferred to the water as soon as its ilow through the coil is restored. Furthermore, the helical coil 35 may be made sufficiently yieldable to prevent the hose 35 from breaking whenever it is put under comparatively small tension. The flexible water line 36 is connected to a source of water supply 31 in which a valve 38 is interposed.

In order to provide a means for regulating the liow or quantity of water passing from the main supply line 31 to the flexible supply line 36 I have provided a pipe connection 39 in the form of a T to which a nipple or short length of pipe 40 is connected. A discharge valve 4| is connected to the nipple 40 and the water passing through the valve 4| is adapted to flow into a tumbler or receptacle 42 suitably supported beneath the valve 4|. A cut-off valve 43 is interposed between the T 33 and the ilexible pipe 36, and initially this valve 43 is closed and the valves 38 and 4| opened, the degree of opening of the valve 38 being such that the tumbler or receptacle will be lled within a predetermined length of time or such a length of time as will be required in the pressing of 'the fabric. When the flow of water has been regulated, the valve 4| is closed, the valve 38 left in its regulated position, and the valige 43 is completely opened so that the regulated quantity of water may flow past the valve 43 through the iiexible pipe line 36 and into the coil 35 out of which the water flows into the steam generating chamber 3|.

The steam from the chamber 3| flows out of the outlet 33 into a pipe or passage 44 which discharges into a steam supply chamber 45 provided in the housing 21 above the heagng unit;v 2|. The housing 21 at the rear thereof is provided with an opening 46, and a stud 41 is mounted in this opening 46. The stud 41 is cast or formed integrally with a casting 48 secured to the rear of the housing 21 by means of bolts 48 or the like. The opening 46 constitutes the outlet for the steam supply chamber 45, and the stud 41 is provided with a passage 56 through which the steam is adapted to ow. A steam controlling valve 5| is normally held on a valve seat 52 at the outer end of the passage 50 for closing the passage, being constantly urged toward the seat 52 by means of a spring 53.

The spring 53 is disposed about the stem portion 54 of the valve 5 I, engaging at one end against a collar 55 which is adjustably mounted on the stem 54, and the opposite end of the spring 53 engages against a collar 56 which is carried by an L-shaped arm 51 formed with the casting 48.

line 6| is connected to one of the passages 68, and 10 a second discharge line 6| a is connected to the other of the passages 60. v

The steam generating member 20 is provided with a pair of steam passages 62 and 63, which in the present instance are disposed in divergent 15 relation toward the rear of the iron and converge toward the point, being disposed preferably in outwardly spaced relation to the steam generating chamber 3|. The plate 20 is provided with a plurality of discharge ports 64 and 65 which com- 20 municate at their lower ends with the atmosphere through the pressing surface 30 of the plate 20, and communicate .at their upper ends with the passages 62 and 63 respectively. These discharge ports 64 and 65 are spaced longitudinally of the 25 passages 62 and 63.

In order to provide a means whereby the valve 5| may be moved into open position and held'in such open position as long as may be desired, I have provided a valve operating lever 66 which 30 is pivoted as at 61 to one leg of the L-shaped arm 51. The inner end of the lever 66 is adapted to bear against the collar 55, whereas the long or opposite end of the lever 66 extends forwardly between the handle 23 and the housing 21. 85 Rocking movement of the lever 66 is limited by means of an adjustable stop member 68 carried by the lever 66 forwardly of the pivot 61, and the stop member preferably engages a wear plate 68 secured to the upper portion of the housing 21.

When it is desired to hold the lever 66 in open or partly open position, a C-shaped clamping member 10 which is swingably carried by an arm 1| on the casting 48 is swung upwardly so that the lever adjusting screw 12 will contact with 45 the upper side of the lever 66. 'Iurning downwardly of the adjusting screw 12 will force the outer end of the lever 66 downwardly and raise the inner end thereof, which will simultaneously raise the valve 5| to the desired ope position, 50 that is, either completely open or o ly partly open position as may be desired. The lever clamp 10 will gravitatingly swing into released position as shown in Figure 5.4

In the use and operation of the pressing means 6 5 hereinbefore described, the desired switch member 24 may be initially closed to energize the heating unit 2l to the desired degree, depending upon the character of the fabric to be pressed. When the temperature of the hot plate 20 reaches 60 the desired degree, or when it has a temperature above the boiling point of water, the water supply valve 38 is opened and the valve 43 closed. The measuring valve 4| is then opened so as to permit the water to flow into the measuring receptacle 42. The degree of the opening of the valve 38 is adjusted until the receptacle 42 is filled in a predetermined length of time, thus assuring the proper quantity of water being supplied to the generator. When the ilow of water 70 past the valve 38 has been determined, the valve 4| isclosed and the valve 43 opened, and the valve 38 is not touched again until the iiow of water is changed.

The valve 43 being opened the water will flow 75 acrobat through the flexible pipe line 3b and into the coiled pipe 3b. As there are no valves between the pipe and the steam generating chamber 3l the water will flow from the pipe 35 into the chamber 3i where it Will immediately be turned intosteam. The steam generated in the chamber 3i will pass through the pipe ,trl into the steam supply chamber (l5 in the housing 21. As the pressure of the steam increases the incoming Water in the coil 35 will be forced back until no further water is permitted to enter the generating chamber 3i. In the meantime, however, the steam first generated is additionally or superheated in both the generating chamber 3| and the supply chamber t5, so that this steam will be in the form of dry steam whichwill not be condensed into liquid form in the discharge passages 62 and 63 or in the discharge ports 6d and 65.

Steam having been generated in the chamber.

will flow through the passage 50 into the chamber 59 and from then through the passages 6U and the pipes 6| and Bla into the discharging chambers or passages 62 and 63. As the ports 64 and 65 are open at all times, the steam in the passages 62 and 63 will discharge through the ports 64 and 65 onto the surface of the fabric being pressed. 'Ihe supply chamber 45 is preferably of sumcient size, taken in combination with the coil 35 which in itself will hold a quantity of steam so that one garment may be steamed and pressed with the valve 5i held in opened position.

It will be obvious that the valve 38 may be suitably adjusted so that either Wet or dry steam may be supplied to the discharge ports G4 and 65, depending upon the character of the fabric being pressed and steamed. While the heating unit 2l has lbeen shown as an electric heating unit, it

Will'be understood that other forms of heating' means may be used, and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the particular type of heating unit disclosed.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the `spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted onlyby the scope of the following claims heating means, means for conducting steam from said steam generating chamber to said steam supply chamber, and means connected to the supply chamber for discharging steam through the pressing surface of the body at will. v

2. A pressing means as set forth comprising a body provided with a pressing surface; a heating means in the body, a steam generating cham- ,ber in the body intermediate the heating means and the pressing surface, a supply chamber above said heating means connected to the generating chamber, said body having steam discharge ports in the pressing face thereof, means connecting said discharge ports with the supply chamber, 5 and valve means interposed in said connecting means for controlling the passage of steam from the supply chamber to the discharge ports.

3. A pressing means as set forth comprising a body provided with a pressing surface, a'heat- 10 ing means in the body, a steam generating chamber in the body intermediate the heating means and the pressing surface of the body, a steam supply chamber above said heating means, connecting means connecting the steam generating l5 chamber with the steam supply chamber, said body having a plurality of discharge ports opening through, the pressing surface thereof and having a passage therein communicating with the inner ends of said ports, means connecting 20 Said passage with the supply chamber, and 'a valve interposed in said latter connecting means for controlling the discharge of steam through said ports.

4. A pressing means as set forthv comprising a 25 body provided with a pressing surface, a heating vmeans in the body, a steam generating chamber in the body intermediate the heating means and the pressing surface of the body, a steam supply chamber above said heating means, con- 30 necting means connecting the steam generating chamber with the steam supply chamber, said body having a plurality cf connected discharge port-s opening through the pressing surface thereof, means connecting said discharge ports with 35 said supply chamber, a valve in said latter connecting means, and operating means for said valve.

5. A pressing means as set forth comprising a body, a heating means in the body, a steam 40 generating chamber in the body beneath said heating means, a supply chamber in the body above said heating means, means connecting said supply chamber With said generating chamber, means connecting said generating chamber 45.'

with a source of water supply, said body having a discharge passage therein and having discharge ports communicating with said passage, means connecting said passage with said supply chamber, a valve interposed in said latter connecting means, operating means for said valve, and means for limiting the movement of said operating means.

6. A pressing means as set forth comprising a body, a heating means in the body, a steam generating chamber in the body beneath said heating means, a supply chamber in the body above said heating means, means connecting said supply chamber with said generating chamber, means connecting said generating chamber with a source of water supply, said body having a discharge passage therein and having discharge ports communicating with said passage, means connecting said passage with said supply chamber, a valve interposed in said latter connecting means, operating means for said valve, and

-means for holding said operating means in a predetermined open position.

'7. A pressing means as set forth comprising a body, a heating means in the body, a steam generating chamber in the body beneath said heating m'eans, a steam supply chamber in the body above said heating means, means connecting said supply chamber with said generating chamber, means connecting said generating chamber with a source of water supply, said body having a discharge passage therein and having discharge ports communicating with said passage, means connecting said passage with said supply chamber, a valve interposed in said latter connecting means, means constantly urging said valve into closed position, operating means for said valve, and means for holding said operating means in a predetermined position for maintaining the valve in a predetermined open position.

8. A pressing means as set forth comprising a body, a heating means in the body, a steam generating chamber in the body beneath said heating means, a steam supply chamber in the body above said heating means, means connecting said supply chamber with said generating chamber, means connecting said generating chamber with a source of water supply, said body having a discharge passage therein and having discharge ports communicating with said passage, means connecting said passage with said supply chamber, a valve interposed in said latter connecting means, means constantly'urging said valve into closed position, operating means for said valve, and means interposed in said second connecting means for regulating the quantity of water supplied to said generating chamber.

9. A flat iron for steaming and pressing comprising a body portion, a pressing surface provided on said body portion, heating means in the body portion, means for generating steam in the body portion between said heating means and said pressing surface, means for storing steam above said heating means, and means for discharging the steam through the pressing surface onto an article to be pressed.

10. A flat iron for steaming and pressing comprising a body portion provided with a pressing surface, heating means in the body portion, means for generating steam in the body portion between the heating means and the pressing surface said means including a conduit adapted to receive water to be vaporized, means for storing steam above said heating means, and means for discharging the steam onto the surface" of an article to be pressed.

11. A flat iron for steaming and pressing comprising a body portion formed of two parts posi- --tioned one above the other, means for securing said parts together, means in the lower part adapted tov receive water for generation into steam, means in said upper part for receiving and storing said steam, a pressing surface on said lower part, heating means for the iron in- 'termediate said parts and means for delivering steam generated in said lower part to said storing means then through said pressing surface onto the article to be pressed.

12. Steaming and pressing means comprising a weighted body portion provided with a pressing surface, heating means in the body portion, means for vaporizing water intermediate said heating means and the pressing surface, a steam supply chamber above said heating means, a

coil of tubing adjacent said body portion andv communicating with the water vaporizing means for delivery of water to the vaporizing means and means for delivering steam from the water v'aporizng means through said steam supply chamber and then through the pressing surface onto the article to be pressed.

13. As a new article of manufacture a combined steaming and pressing means comprising a body provided with a pressing surface, heating means in the body, means in the body below said heating means for generating steam, a steam chamber in the body above said heating means, means for conducting steam from said steam generating means to the steam chamber and means for discharging steam from the steam chamber onto an article to be pressed through the pressing surface.

14. A flat iron comprising a body portion formed of two parts positioned one above the other, heating means for the body portion positioned intermediate the two parts, means in the lower part of the body beneath said heating means for generating steam, a steam chamber in the upper part of the body above the heating means, a ductI connecting the steam chamber with the steam generating means and means for discharging steam from said steam chamber through the lower part onto the article to be pressed.

15. A pressing means as set forth comprising a body, said body having steam discharge ports through the lower face thereof, means for generating and storing steam in said body, said means comprising a steam supply chamber, means for controlling the flow of steam from said supply chamber to said discharge ports, and means for conducting water to said steam generating means including a metallic tube, said tube functioning as a pre-heater for the water led to said pressing means and as an auxiliary steam 'supply chamber, substantially as set forth.

16. A pressing means according to claim 15, in which the metal tube is wound up at the back of the iron in the form of a'helical coil.

- SAMUEL DESURE. 

